Staff / Katherine Frye.From left, Linda Murray, President of Hapeville Cares Community Volunteer Group, and David Burt, Executive Director of the Hapeville Arts Alliance, will coordinate Hapeville's Paint the Town Program..

The month of June will bring warmer weather, ice cream cones stacked high, relaxation and — paint, and lots of it, to the city of Hapeville.

On June 21, the city will kick off its $8,500 inaugural Paint the Town program, a neighborhood revitalization effort in which volunteers paint homes in dire need of a fresh coating, at no charge to homeowners.

The program is a collaboration between the city, the Development Authority, the Hapeville Arts Alliance and Hapeville Cares, a community volunteer group.

Linda Murray, who is one of the effort’s coordinators, said once she and co-coordinator David Burt witnessed first-hand how the program works in LaGrange, they were both quickly on board.

“We decided that it was what we could do to start to revitalize some of the areas that are distressed and offer this to homeowners,” said Murray. “The thought was to offer it to homeowners who have been in their houses for three years or more, whether they are handicapped, elderly or financially unable to do so themselves.”

Burt, who is working with the city on an economic development consulting basis, said this program has been long in the works.

“This is just part of our plan for neighborhood revitalization,” he said. “It’s a good way to make the neighborhood look better and to a good way to build community.”

In order to qualify for the program, applicants must meet income thresholds and fill out applications.

A total of 10 homes will benefit — five houses for a full paint job and five for “curb appeal” front door, foundation and shutter touch-up painting.

Volunteers from Target, Hands on Atlanta, Habitat for Humanity and local churches will also participate on the June 22 and June 24 to 27 work days.

Restoring community pride is another reason why Murray thinks the program is beneficial.

“I can’t tell you how many people we’ve talked to that feel bad about the state of their house,” she said. “To me, it’s a win-win situation for everybody. It’s each other giving back to each other.”

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